CM elated as Monsoon revives

Hyderabad, Jul 24 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy was today elated as the South-West Monsoon, which had been passive after setting early in June, became active, bringing much-needed rains to carry on Kharif sowing.

The Chief Minister expressed hapiness during a video conference with the District Collectors that the monsoon had revived in the State. He noted with satisfaction that the transplantation of paddy seedlings and sowing of other crops in the rain-fed areas had picked up in the state.

Meanwhile, India Meteorology Department officials told UNI that ''conditions are favourable for development of a system in the Bay of Bengal shortly.'' Heavy rains are likely in the districts of Adilabad, Karimnagar, Nizamabad, Khammam and Warangal of Telangana during next 48 hours.

In an effort to induce more rains from rain-bearing clouds, Andhra Pradesh Commercial Taxes Minister K Ramakrishna inaugurated the Cloud Seeding Programme, jointly undertaken by the State Rain Shadow Area Development Department and the Jawaharlal Nehru Technology University.